Floribunda rose plant named ‘WEKsmopur’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Floribunda rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of deep plum coloration.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘WEKsmopur’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Floribunda Rose.It has an undisseminated seedling of Applicant's creation as its seedparent with the following genetic origin (Sweet Chariot×BlueNile)×Stephen's Big Purple and has an undisseminated seedling ofApplicant's creation as its pollen parent with the following geneticorigin (International Herald Tribune×Rosa soulieana derivative)×(SweetChariot×Blue Nile).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combination of characteristics: its strong citrus-liketo moderately spicy fragrance, its hairy flower receptacle, itsmucronate petal apices, its nearly horizontal zone of lighter colorationforming a broad ‘V’ shaped at the petal base, its very low-thorned newshoots and branches and its unusual deep plum flower coloration. Theplant has a rounded and compact growing habit, suitable for outdoorgarden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Upland, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKsmopur’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.‘Dr. Huey’.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, anundisseminated seedling of Applicant's creation by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKsmopur’ bears medium sizedflowers (about 8.0 to about 10.2 cm. in diameter) of deep plumcoloration, the undisseminated seedling bears significantly largerflowers (about 9.7 to 13.9 cm. in diameter) of a lighter purple-pinkcoloration. The seed parent bears matte foliage, whereas ‘WEKsmopur’bears glossy foliage.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, anundisseminated seedling of Applicant's creation by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKsmopur’ bears very doubleflowers (about 25 to 48 petals) of deep plum coloration, theundisseminated seedling bears semi-double flowers of lavender colorationwith significantly lesser petalage (about 14 to 23 petals). The newvariety is classified as a floribunda rose with a rounded and compactlow height mature growing habit (about 66 to about 80 cm. in height),whereas the pollen parent is classified as a shrub rose with amoderately spreading significantly taller mature growing habit.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘WEKfabpur’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,623 by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKsmopur’ bears verydouble flowers (about 25 to 48 petals) of deep plum coloration,‘WEKfabpur’ bears semi-double flowers of velvety black purple colorationwith a white eye and with significantly lesser petalage (about 18 to 24petals). The new variety bears medium size flowers (about 8.0 to about10.2 cm. in diameter), whereas the closest commercially availablecultivar bears significantly smaller flowers (about 5.3 to about 7.4 cm.in diameter).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(1966) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Upland, Calif. in the month of November.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

-   Botanical designation: The new variety botanical designation is Rosa    hybrida ‘WEKsmopur’.

FLOWER

The new variety sometimes bears its flowers singly, usually in clustersof two to five or more per stem. Flowers may be borne in regular roundedclusters on strong somewhat short to medium length stems (about 18 toabout 50 cm.). Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearlycontinuously during the growing season. The flowers have a strongcitrus-like to moderately spicy fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 2.9 to about 6.6 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.2 to about 0.3 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. It ismoderately smooth, with some stipitate glands and many hairs. Pedunclecolor is between 146C and 148B often moderately suffused, especially onthe side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 183B.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 0.9 to about 1.6 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.1 to about 1.5 cm. in length, andmoderately ovoid to somewhat pointed in shape. The surface of the budbears few foliaceous appendages and some stipitate glands and hairs,usually with slender entire foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip ofthe bud about ¼ or more of its length. Bud color is between 146B and146C sometimes lightly suffused, especially on the side exposed to thesun, with between 187C and 183C.

The sepals are about 2.0 to about 4.5 cm. in length and about 0.6 toabout 1.0 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 146B and 146C sometimes lightly suffused,especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 187C and 183C.The inner surface color of the sepal is between 137A and 138B. After thesepals open, the inner surface color is sometimes lightly suffused,especially on the area exposed to the sun, with between 187C and 183B.The inner surface is covered with fine wooly tomentum; sepal margins arelined with many stipitate glands and hairs.

The receptacle of the flower is of moderately short to medium length(about 0.5 to about 0.8 cm.) and average in caliper (about 0.6 to about0.8 cm. in diameter). The receptacle is moderately rounded to somewhaturn-shaped in form. Its surface is very smooth with some hairs and withthick fleshy walls. The receptacle color is between 144A and 147B oftenmoderately suffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, withbetween 187B and 187A.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.2 toabout 2.6 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.5 to about 3.0cm. in length, and moderately ovoid to somewhat globular in form. Thecolor of the under surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 59Band 60C gradually suffusing toward the petals edge with darker thanbetween 187A and 79A. At the point where the petal attaches, there is amoderately large zone of between 1C and 154C. The color of the uppersurfaces of the newly opened petals is between 59A and 71A graduallysuffusing toward the petals edge with darker than between 187A and 79A.At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zoneof between 2B and 3B.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 8.0 to about 10.2 cm. indiameter. Petalage is very double with about 25 to 48 petals and about11 to 19 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloomform is globular to somewhat high centered, and the petals aremoderately tightly spiraled to somewhat cupped with petal edges slightlyreflexed outward. When fully open, the bloom form is cupped, and thepetals are loosely cupped to moderately undulated with petal edgessomewhat reflexed outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of somewhat thickthickness, with upper surfaces moderately velvety to satiny and undersurfaces slightly shiny to matte. The petals are about 2.7 to about 4.9cm. in length and about 2.3 to about 4.9 cm. in width at the widestpoint. Petal margins are entire.

The outer petals are nearly rounded to somewhat obovate in shape withusually mucronate and sometimes rounded apices.

The inner petals are broadly obovate in shape with usually mucronate andsometimes rounded apices.

Petaloids are about 1.2 to about 3.3 cm. in length and about 0.6 toabout 3.0 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped somewhat oblanceolate to subulate with rounded apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer petals is between 72A and darkerthan 71A. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderatelylarge zone of between 2D and 4D. The upper surface color of the outerpetals is between 74B and 64A lightly suffused with between 79B and 71A.At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zoneof between 3D and 4C. On either side of this attachment point, extendingto the edge of the petal, there is a moderately wide, nearly horizontalzone of lighter coloration forming a broad ‘V’. The coloration of thischevron is between 70B and 74C.

The under surface color of the intermediate petals is between 72A and70A. The upper surface color of the intermediate petals is between 74Band 64A moderately suffused with between 79A and darker than 71A.

The under surface color of the inner petals is between 72A and 70A. Theupper surface color of the inner petals is between 74B and 64A heavilysuffused with between 79A and darker than 71A.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the inner petals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 74B and 64Asuffused with between 79A and darker than 71A.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer petals is between 80B and 78B. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone ofbetween 155A and 4D. The upper surface color of the outer petals isbetween 80B and 74B moderately suffused with between 79B and 79A. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone ofbetween 4D and 2D. On either side of this attachment point, extending tothe edge of the petal, there is a moderately wide, nearly horizontalzone of lighter coloration forming a broad ‘V’. The coloration of thischevron is near 155C.

The under surface color of the intermediate and inner petals is between80C and 70A. The upper surface color of the intermediate and innerpetals is between 78B and 74B heavily suffused with between darker than79B and 79A.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 80B and 74Bheavily suffused with between darker than 79B and 79A.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In November in Upland, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are few in number (average about 50) and are arranged regularlyabout the pistils; some are mixed with petaloids. The filaments are ofmedium length (about 0.5 to about 0.9 cm.) most with anthers. Filamentsare between 4C and 2D in color sometimes lightly suffused with between53B and 53C. The anthers are somewhat small for the class and all openapproximately at the same time. Anther color when immature is near 17Aon the external part and near 16D on the internal part. Anther color atmaturity is between 163C and 161B on the external part and near 200B onthe internal part. Pollen is somewhat abundant and between 18B and 19Cin color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 45). The styles are moderatelyeven, somewhat long in length (about 0.8 to about 1.1 cm.), thin toaverage in caliper and loosely bunched to somewhat separated. Stigmacolor is between 16C and 15D. Style color is between 1C and 1D oftenmoderately suffused with between 53B and 53C. Ovaries are usually allenclosed in the calyx.

Hips are of average length (about 1.0 to about 1.4 cm.), very rounded inform, and between 28B and 30B in color when ripe. The hip surface isvery smooth with thick fleshy walls. The sepals are moderately permanentand usually straight in shape.

The seeds are irregularly rounded, smooth in texture, approximately 7 toabout 11 per hip, about 0.5 to about 0.7 cm. in diameter at the widestpoint and near 161B in color.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to five leaflets andare borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about 8.7 to about13.3 cm. in length and about 6.9 to about 10.5 cm. in width at thewidest point, moderately leathery in texture, and glossy in finish. Theterminal leaflets are about 4.4 to about 6.6 cm. in length and about 2.6to about 4.5 cm. in width at the widest point, shaped moderately oval tosomewhat ovate with acute to somewhat acuminate apices and rounded tomoderately acute bases. Their margins are usually simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 139A and 147A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 147B and 148B. Theupper surface color of the young leaf is between 139B and 146D, oftenheavily suffused with between 187A and 183B. The under surface color ofthe young leaf is between 137D and 146D, often heavily suffused withbetween 187B and 183A.

The rachis is moderately light in caliper and very smooth. The upperside is shallowly grooved with some hairs and few stipitate glands onthe edges of the grooves. The under side of the rachis is very smoothwith some hairs and very few stipitate glands. The rachis color is near146D on the under side and near 138A on the upper side, often heavilysuffused especially on the young leaf with between 187B and 183B.

The stipules are about 1.0 to about 1.6 cm. in length and medium inwidth (about 0.6 to about 0.8 cm.) with very long straight points thatusually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees and sometimesrecurve toward the stem. The stipules color is between 137B and 146B.

The petiole is moderately light in caliper and very smooth. The upperside is shallowly grooved with some hairs and few stipitate glands onthe edges of the grooves. The under side of the petiole is very smoothwith some hairs and very few stipitate glands. The petiole is about 0.4to about 1.2 cm. in length and about 0.1 to about 0.15 cm. in diameterat the widest point. The petiole color is near 146D on the under sideand near 138A on the upper side, often heavily suffused especially onthe young leaf with between 187B and 183B.

The plant displays an average degree of resistance to powdery mildew andrust as compared to other commercial varieties grown under comparableconditions in Upland, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a rounded and compact low height mature growing habit(about 66 to about 80 cm. in height and about 54 to about 72 cm. spreadat the widest point), with full branching. It displays moderatelyvigorous growth and the canes are of somewhat light caliper for theclass.

The color of the major stems is between 147B and 146A. They bear fewlarge prickles that are about 0.5 to about 0.7 cm. in length. The largeprickles are almost straight to angled slightly downward with a mediumlength somewhat narrow oval base; prickle color is between 166B and166C. The major stem bears few small prickles of similar shape andcoloration.

The color of the branches is between 146A and 148B. They usually bear nolarge prickles but sometimes bear very few large prickles which are ofsimilar size and shape to the large prickles on the major stems; pricklecolor is between 164B and 164A. The branches usually bear no smallprickles but sometimes bear very few small prickles of similar shape andcoloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 145A and 146C often heavilysuffused with between 187B and 183A. They usually bear no large pricklesbut sometimes bear very few large prickles which are of similar size andshape to the large prickles on the major stems; prickle color is near151A usually moderately suffused with between 187B and 187C. The shootsusually bear no small prickles but sometimes bear very few smallprickles of similar shape and coloration.

1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant of the variety substantiallyas described and illustrated herein.